begotten by the Word of Truth. Surely he speaks of people who have received eternal life. Then in Jas 1:19, he addresses the same group (the “beloved brethren”) and tells them if they clean up their act and receive the implanted Word with meekness, they can have “salvation.” Does this refer to eternal life? It seems they already had that. Perhaps it only comes to those who maintain the gift they received (1:16–18) through a life of good works. That is precisely what many groups teach and believe.